My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult – SIDE-LINE

My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult – Sinister Whisperz 4: The Bedroom Tapes 1987-1988 (Album – Sleazebox Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Electro, Experimental.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This album of legendary American formation My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult bring us back to the early years of the band. These tracks are rarities and jam sessions that were originally recorded before their legendary debut album “I See Good spirits And I See Bad Spirits” originally released in 1988 by Wax Trax! Records.

Content: The album features 13 tracks and brings us back to the essence of the band’s early sound. It was an Electro-Industrial approach which couldn’t have been released on another label than Wax Trax!. It reminds me of the golden 80s and other label bands such as Revolting Cocks and early Ministry. The songs were already characterized by an impressive sound canvas carried by very personal and imposing drum sections and ghost-like vocals on top.

+ + + : It’s really great to see the band releasing these rarities which are featuring alluring songs revealing the ‘early’ and growing genius of the band. This work sounds like My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult at its best; a band with a very own sound that has been never totally emulated. A creative way to compose Electronic music creating a kind of controlled and harmonious chaos.

– – – : I’m sometimes missing a bit diversity between the tracks but I don’t really care.

Conclusion: A great work evoking the early and ‘forgotten’ period of a legendary 80s formation.

Best songs: “Monster Man”, “Invocation”, “Baby Casanova”, “Sermon 4 None”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.mylifewiththethrillkillcult.com / www.facebook.com/thrillkillkult

Label: www.sleazebox.com / www.facebook.com/sleazeboxrecords

About My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult

My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult was formed in 1987 in Chicago by Groovie Mann (Frankie Nardiello) and Buzz McCoy (Marston Daley). The band’s debut album, “I See Good Spirits And I See Bad Spirits”, was released on Wax Trax! Records in 1988. The duo has since revisited its own catalog through the “Sinister Whisperz” retrospective series on their own label, Sleazebox Records: volume I (2010) covered the Wax Trax! years, volume II (2016) the Interscope years, and volume III (2020) the Rykodisc years. “Sinister Whisperz 4: The Bedroom Tapes 1987-1988”, released in 2023, collects rarities and jam sessions recorded before the band’s debut album.

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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Curse Mackey – Immoral Emporium (Album – Negative Gain Productions)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-Pop, Electro-Pop, Industrial-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Three years after his debut album “Instant Exorcism”, American artist Curse Mackey (Evil Mothers, Pigface, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult…) strikes back with a new full length.

Content: It’s not an easy thing defining the sound of this project. There’s a naughty Pop sound hanging over the work, which is however infused by darker and harder guitar riffs. Even the dreamy passages are inhibited by darkness and a kind of uncomfortable, evil sensation.

+ + + : Curse Mackey avoids easy Electro-Pop and other Industrial clichés. That creates the originality of his work, but also the challenge. You’ll however discover noticeable songs like the previously released single track “Lacerations” which remains a great piece supported by an obscure sphere. “Altar Of Falsehoods” is another attention grabber, which is driven by a cool rhythm.

– – – : This is not a bite-sized piece of music, which needs a few listening before you get into it.

Conclusion: Somewhere in between a perverted Electro-Pop format and soft Industrial music.

Best songs: “Lacerations – LP Cut”, “Altar Of Falsehoods”, “A Sharp Reminder”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.cursemackey.com / www.facebook.com/curse.mackey

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain Read the news on ‘Immoral Emporium’.

About Curse Mackey

Curse Mackey began his career DJing and producing underground events as a teenager in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. He is a member of Pigface, previously played with My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult, and founded the industrial-punk act Evil Mothers. His debut solo album, “Instant Exorcism”, was released in 2019. “Immoral Emporium” followed in September through Negative Gain Productions, with lead single “Lacerations” issued alongside an official video, and a North American tour as support for Clan of Xymox.

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Trash Deity – Cross & Divide (CD Album – Metropolis)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 21:00:19 +0000

Genre/Influences: EBM, electro-rock.

Background/Info: Behind this new project and the debut album “Cross & Divide” is hiding the duo ‘Groovie Mann’ aka Franke N. Nardiello (My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult) and ‘JDN’ aka John D. Norten (Blue Eyed Christ). They started Trash Deity a few years ago and released a few digital EP’s. This album wants to be a wink to Wax Trax!-sound ‘updated with a heavy electronic/guitar groove & modern production.’

Content: The goal of the Trash Deity has been successfully accomplished. There for sure is something Wax Trax!-like running through their work and I especially refer to My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult because of Groovie Mann particular, harsh timbre of voice. I also can mention they early –and electro-driven, sound of Ministry, but you also will maybe notice typical arrangements and sounds reminding to Blue Eyed Christ.

The work mixes harder- and more EBM-orientated songs together with some rock-driven cuts on, which the guitar is more dominating.

+ + + : The debut cuts are absolutely magnificent, revealing great electronic sound treatments, icy sounds, danceable rhythms and passionate vocals. The leads running through this album are quite noticeable as well. The guitar mostly empowers the electronic structure of the music.

– – – : The more electro-rock cuts (such as “Icons & Idols”) aren’t exactly my favorite tracks for being less original and simply average-like. These are maybe the more ‘American’-like cuts.

Conclusion: I didn’t know what to expect from both veterans, but “Cross & Divide” is according to me one of the best works they’ve accomplished in years.

Best songs: “Run For Your Lies!”, “Cross & Divide”, “Frantic Child”, “Finger On The Trigger”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www .facebook .com /Trashdeity

Label: www .metropolis –records .com / www .facebook .com /MetropolisRecords

About Trash Deity

Trash Deity pairs Franke “Groovie Mann” Nardiello of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and John “JDN” Norten of Blue Eyed Christ. The project released the singles “Finger On A Trigger” in 2016 and “Run 4 Your Lies!” in 2017 before the debut album “Cross & Divide”, reviewed here, and the “Frantic Child” remix EP, both in 2018.

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